Abstract
Electrochemical techniques and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometry were used to probe the oxidation of 5,6‐substituted‐2,3‐dihydroimidazo[2,1‐b]thiazoles, a new class of anti‐inflammatory agents which interrupt the biosynthesis of leukotrienes. The electrochemistry of the 5,6‐bis(4‐aminophenyl), bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl) and their N‐ and O‐alkylated derivatives (compounds 1–6) showed hydroquinonoid character obeying a two consecutive one‐electron (EE) mechanism. Dimerization via a radical intermediate was observed for the 6‐monosubstituted compounds 7 and 8. Electrooxidation of SK&F 86002 (compound 9), a compound recently reported to possess dual pathway inhibition (lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase) of arachidonate metabolism, also resulted in the formation of a cation radical. The significance of the observed redox chemistry will be discussed in the context of inhibition to pharmacologically important redox enzymes.